Pending successful completion of two investigations, Nancy J. Koppe will replace Hon. Robert J. Johnston as a United States Magistrate Judge in Las Vegas. Johnston will retire from the position in December of this year.

Before she is able to take office, Koppe must undergo investigations by both the FBI and the IRS. The investigations should take between 10 and 12 weeks.

Koppe is currently an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas. She has held the position for 12 years. Koppe received her juris doctorate from Cornell Law School and her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. If appointed, she will be expected to serve as magistrate judge for eight years.                           

School is back in session and the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) needs your help introducing children to the legal system through the familiar story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Presenting the Goldilocks program is fairly simple and each presentation takes approximately an hour. The presenter first screens a 40-minute DVD for the participating class: a dramatization depicting what might have happened had Goldilocks been brought to trial for her actions at the Three Bears' house on that fateful night in the woods.  

Participating in this program is a fun and easy way to give back to the community. Since presentations take place throughout the school year, scheduling is flexible and planned around a volunteer's other obligations, with plenty of advance notice.

Those interested in volunteering in southern Nevada should forward their contact information to Jessica Green at jgreen@gordonrees.com. Volunteers in northern Nevada should send their information to Chandeni Gill at cgill@unlv.nevada.edu.

The Family Law Section will administer the Family Law Specialization Exam on March 2, 2013, the Saturday prior to its Family Law Conference. Those interested in sitting for the exam must apply no later than December 31, 2012.

Applications are available on the state bar's website, as are the Family Law Specialization Standards. Questions regarding the exam should be directed to the section chair, Bob Cerceo, via e-mail at rcerceo@theabramslawfirm.com.

There's no more rewarding way to earn CLE credits than by mentoring to a new attorney. The mentoring experience keeps legal skills sharp, provides attorneys with networking opportunities, introduces them to the next generation of attorneys and, when done through the state bar's exciting Transitioning into Practice (TIP) program, earns them three CLE credits for each six-month cycle of mentoring.

The (TIP) program is looking for experienced attorneys to serve as mentors. Volunteers may elect to mentor new attorneys in-house only, or to engage in outside mentoring relationships. Mentor training and a detailed Mentoring Plan will be provided.

For more information and to apply online, visit the state bar's website. Send questions to tip@nvbar.org.

Tax Controversies: Practicing Before the IRS and U.S. Tax Court is the perfect seminar for attorneys interested in practicing pro bono tax law for low-income individuals through Nevada Legal Services. Attendance is free to attorneys who volunteer to take a pro bono case or provide several hours of counseling.

The seminar takes place on Friday, September 21, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Northern Nevada Bar Center in Reno. Attendees will receive two general CLE credits. Register online today!

Starting tonight, Thursday, Sept. 13 and continuing through tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 14, the William S. Boyd School of Law is hosting a public interest law film festival with the theme of "Legitimacy, Process and Penalty."

The featured films are Crime After Crime, Hot Coffee, and AbUSed: The Postville Raid. For a complete schedule and to register, free of charge, visit the school's website.